Method and apparatus for dehydrating natural plants and grasses



Fb. 8, 1944. 4 D. HOWARD 2,341,101

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING NATURAL PLANTS AND GRASSES Filed Jan. 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Dewe Howard. B

ATTORN EY Feb. 8, 1944. D. 1 HOWARD 2,341,101

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING NATURAL PLANTS AND GRASSES Filed Jan. 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR p e; L. Howard B -.ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1944. D. L. HOWARD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING NATURAL PLANTS AND GRASSES 18, 1941' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan L. flown/d INVENTOR ATTORNEY Fe, 8, 1944. A D. L. HOWARD I A 2341;101-

- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING NATURAL PLANTS AND GRASSES- Filed Jan. 18, 1941 5 Shets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR flewe L. aware? ATTORNEY Fb. s, 1944. D. L. HOWARD 2,341,,m

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR'DEHYDRATING NATURAL) PLANTS AND GRASSES Filed Jan. 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIH Patented Feb. 8, 1944 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEBAT- ING NATURAL PLANTS GRASSES Dewey L. Howard, NeodeshmKans.

Application .lanuary 18, 1941, Serial No. 375.63% (or. se -1o) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and appa ratus for dehydrating crops or the like of natural plants, grasses and similar materials, the principal objects of the invention being to provide a convenient, relatively economical and highly erficient method and apparatus oi the character noted.

Other objects of the invention are to dehydrate plants, grasses and the like, in such a manner as to retain, in large measurathe color, taste, nutrition and vitamin content of the natural crop in substantially its uncut condition in the field: to provide for primarily dehydrating a given crop substantially in contact and/or in close proximity to an open flame, yet preventing ignition or over-drying or over-dehydrating of the crop; to control penetration or extension of the time in to and within the dehydrating apparatus; to provide for moving the material being dehydrated through a portion of the dehydrating apparatus in which the contents of the dehydrator are maintained in controlled heat areas; to provide dehydrating equipment in which hermetic scal ing is not critical, wherein substantially all. of the crop is uniformly exposed to dehydrating media and wherein the dehydrating media are employed for conveying the crop being dehydrated through portions of the dehydrating equipment; to provide for edectlvely separating the dehydrated crop from dehydrating media inclusive of moisture expelled from the crop; to

utilize the moisture expelled from the crop in preventing ignition and/or over-dehydrationoi the crop; to control dehydration ot a crop in relation to quantities oi the crop passing through the dehydrating equipment and/or the condition thereof upon dehydration; andto provide im proved method steps and sequences thereof, and improved elements and arrangements thereof, in a method and apparatus having the noted characteristics.

In accomplishing these and other objects in the present invention, I have improved details oi structure in an apparatus for carrying out the present method, the preferred form ot'which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings herein. Fig. i is a perspective view 01' dehydrating equipment embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view oi the dehydrating apparatus proper illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 3 is the tranverse cross-section through the dehydrating apparatus substantially on the line M, Fig. 2. c

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-section through the dehydrating apparatus substantially on the line l-t, Fig. 2.. v

Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the dehydrating drum, particularly illustrating a preferred form of bucket in the first flight of conveyor buckets in the dehydrator drum.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of a portion or the dehydrator drum illustrating the preferred form of conveyor bucket, separator ring and paddles employed in the al stage oi dehydration in the dehydrator fiiljfi.

Fig. 'l is a transverse section through the separator end of the dehydrator drum, on the line l-'l, Fig. 52, particularly illustrating separating elements and outlets for the dehydrated material and dehydrating media. resmctively.

Fig. 8 is a detail end elevational view through the air supply mechanism for the dehydrating drum, parts thereof being shown in vertical crossseotion to more clearly illustrate the relation oi the adjustable air inlet valve thereto.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view througha portion or the air inlet valve particularly illustrating the manner in which that valve may be initially set.

Fig. 10 15 El dlagzlt atic view it I"; thfit relation of the controls for varying supply oi heat and air to the dehydrator drum in relation to exhaust temperatures of dehydrating medium.

Fig. i1 is a detail vertical cross-section through a valve for controlling or coordinating responses of fuel admitted to the dehydrating drum in re-- lation to exhaust temperatures oi the dehydratins d.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i, Fig. l, designates a conveyor that is supported onsultable standards 2. and is driven by a shaft 3, rotatable in response to movement oi a belt 41, that may be suitably actuated by the drive shaft or a motor a.

A crop of given natural plants, grasses or other similar material, is harvested in a suitable manner and brought to the dehydrating apparatus shown, the crop being deposited on the conveyor, which carries it to a comminuting device 8 and deposits the comminuted crop in a hopper l.

The hopper l delivers the commlnuted crop to be dehydrated onto a conveyor t that is preferably covered by a shield d. the conveyor d being actuated in response to rotation of thesh'aft it that is driven by a sprocket ii and chain 921, The

chain i2, in turn, is driven by a sprocket ll mounted on a'shart id that'is connected with a gear reduction device It. The year reduction device is driven by a sprocket I8 connected with a chain ll which, in turn, runs over asprocket' I8 mounted on a rotatable shaft Ill. The rotatable shaft ill has a sprocket 20 spaced inwardly from the sprocket l8 and provided with a chain drive 2|, the opposite end of which is mounted on another sprocket 22, which, in turn, is mounted on a shaft 23. The shaft 23 has a sprocket which is drivingly. connected by a chain 24 with a sprocket 25 on the drive shaft of a motor 26.

Conveyance of th commin'uted crop to be dehydratedup the conveyor 8 within the shield 9 delivers the crop to a hopper 21, through which the crop falls by gravity for delivery through the lower end 28 of the hopper, Fig. 3, to an outlet!!! from the hopper and into the dehydrating drum 38.

The dehydrating drum 30 is preferably of gene erally cylindrical shape and horizontally disposed,

, ported by rollers 35, Fig. 2, which have retaining flanges 31 engageable with an annular guide flange 38 on the drum to allow the said controlled rotative movement of the drum. The

rollers 35 are mounted on shafts rotatably supported by bearings 39 that rest upon transverse beams M arranged between side sills 42 and 43 of'the frame 46 for the dehydrating equipment proper. A chain drive 45 suitablyconnects the rollers 35 in such a manner that they operate in unison and are responsive to rotation of the drum as actuated by the motor 26 at the forward end of the drum as above described.

As the comminuted crop is progressively delivered to the interior of the dehydrator drum, it is subjected to heat emitted from preferably open fires or flames resulting from ignition of jets of fuel delivered to burners 46 that project inwardly lodgement of fcommlnutedparticles of the crop y, in thedets, of fire,

Ignition of the comminuted particles of the crop'is further prevented by steam emitted therefrom as a result of initial dehydration'of moisture in the crop. While, therefore, moisture is effectively removed from the crop, burning, charof the-crop.

from and aresupported by a stationary panel All for the dehydrator drum. The panel ll is sup ported by suitable bracketsgmounted on the frame ing the burners-from points exteriorly of the dehydrato'r drum, as indicated at 49, Fig.- 1, and

Combustion of the fuels is Disposed between the series of tines I1 and it are series of spaced wing conveyors 59 and N, which act to mix the comminuted crop and move it forwardly in the direction of movement of air in the drum.

Also arranged between the series of tines and wing conveyors are flights of bucket conveyors 65 and 66. The bucket conveyors l5 and BI preferably have open forward end 61- and solid walls 68. The rear walls of the bucket conveyors II and 66 are preferably apertured as at 60, the apertures in conveyor 85 being offset from the apertures in the conveyor 88, to allow comminuted fodder or the like to drop therethrough onto the solid portion of the next bucket, thus spreading and separating the fodder particles and dropping them through the air surrounding the fire in the dehydrator drum. whereby some moisture is" removed from the crop and the steam therefrom aids in protecting the dry particles from ignition.

Particles of the comminuted crop dropping across the central portion of the drum are caught by the current which the air blower and jets .of fiamecreate and are moved longitudinally of the dehydrator drum and through a centrally arranged'opening HI, Fig. 2, in a ring 'II that is mounted on the inner surface of the drum. The ring II also is provided with spaced apertures 12 adjacent its periphery to allow passage of porfurther by air supplied to the discharge end W,

Fig. 3, of the air blower ii, Fig. 1.

mounted on pins 54 and 55 within the dehy dratordrum and adjacent the discharge end 88 of the air blower to adiustably direct the supply of air around the Jets of flame issuing from the burner 45 substantially in enveloping rela= tion thereto. a 1 A peep-hole 5615 provided in the end wall of the drum to facilitate observation of theeffects of the air and fuel mixture within the dehydrator drum.

As a matter of practice, the Jetsof fire or ignited fuel preferably project a considerable distance within and longitudinally of the drum and the air supply delivered by the blower BI is of sufficient volume and velocity to substantially tlons of the comminuted crop. Upon passage .of the crop past the ring Tl, portions of it lodge on the innersurface of the drum, which portions are picked up by the blades 13 in such a manner asto further agitate and thoroughly separate the crop particles and drop them in the path of the air moving through the ring I l In order to prevent premature passage of undehydrated crop particles through the dehydrator drum, and to direct the air currents laterally, a bailie I5 is centrally arranged within the drum as by mounting the same on a transverse arm 18, the ends of which are engaged with diametrically opposed portions of the drum. Impinge'ment of the comminuted crop particles against the baffle 15 causes them to spread laterally to the inner surface of the drum and into contact with an intermediate flight of the bucket conveyors 80, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The bucket conveyors l0 preferably'consist of angularly bent plates having base flanges ll secured in spaced relation to the dehydrator drum from which walls 82 proiect'in angular relation to the bases; Walls 83 project angularly from the walls 82, andwalls ll project angular-1y from envelope the fire Jets to, in effect, prevent actual the walls 83. The walls 84 terminate in end flanges 85 arranged angularly relative to the walls 84 and a series 01' such end flanges 85 substantially define a circle of approximately the diameter of the bafile plate I5. The bucket conveyors 80 are preferably inter-connected by spaced struts 8B, and the walls of the bucket conveyors are'preferably apertured. For example, the walls 83 of one bucket conveyor 80 are provided with spaced apertures 87, whereas the walls 84 of the bucket conveyors are provided with apertures 88 ofiset from the apertures 81 whereby the particles of the crop dropping through the apertures in one bucket fall on the wall between the apertures in the wall of the next bucket conveyor which carry the particles to the opposite side of the drum before dropping them into the air current moving through the dehydrator.

From the intermediate flight of bucket conveyors, the comminuted crop is transferred rearwardly relative to the dehydrator drum into the final flight 90, Fig. 2, of bucket conveyors. The arrangement of the bucket conveyors 90 is preferably of a character similar to the intermediate bucket conveyors and the same reference characters apply to the respective parts. Therefore, the detailed description of the intermediate conveyors is believed to sumce for the final flight thereof.

A bafile 9!, similar to the baffle 15, and similarly mounted on a cross-arm e2 engaged at its opposite ends with the inner surface of the dehydrator drum, is also provided.- The bafile 9i is preferably arranged adjacent to the rear ends of the bucket conveyors 90 and further prevents premature passage of insuiiiciently dehydrated crop particles into the separator Q3,

From the flight of bucket conveyor 90, the substantially dehydrated crop particles are carried to an annular ring M having a central aperture 95 through which the crop may pass. There is a tendency for the crop particles to collect in the bottom of the drum on the forward or dehydrator inlet side of the ring 26, but this is an advantage for the reason that heavier, moisture containing particles are thus affected and held 1 back longer than the floating, substantially completely dehydrated particles that pass on through the aperture 95. Rotation of the drum agitates such collecting heavier particles of the crop and carries them upwardly, then dropping them for additional action thereon by hot gases produced by the fire, air and vaporized moisture in the dehydrator drum.

From the aperture 95, the dehydrated crop particles are carried into engagement with the sloping rear wall are of the separator 93, where they drop or slide into a recess Hui at the base of the separator and exteriorly of the drum proper. Steam and spent gases of combustion carry on up into the recess m2 of the separator and any comminuted particles of dehydrated crop carriedby such steam and spent gases are caught by the baffle Hi3 and caused to drop back down into the recess mi. Thegases and steam pass around the baffle creatin a spiral motion which aids in removing any particles before the gases and steam escape to atmosphere through the flue we.

The drum projects through an opening-in the front wall ltd of the separator in such a manner that none of the crop will be lost through the opening. The wall it seats on angle arms see that are supported by the sill t2 and d3 of the frame it of the drum. This arrangement allows for expansion and contractionof the dehydrator drum upon changes in temperature thereof withthe drum and separator.

In order to eject the dehydrated, comminuted crop from the separator 93, and particularly the recess I0! thereof, the rear end of the dehydrator drum is provided with fins [01, Fig. 7, which scrape over an arcuate plate I88 that forms the bottom of the recess HH, and lift the crop therefrom for delivery into an outlet channel Hi9 from the separator; the crop thus being delivered to a channel H0 exteriorly of the separator.

In order to avoid a suction action in the separator that would normally tend to draw steam into the channel I09, the channel is apertured, as at ill, to allow atmospheric pressure to act in the channel and prevent passage of steam v through the channel.

While the dehydrated comminuted crop may be delivered for use through the channel lie, it is sometimes desirable to further process or cool the comminuted crop and to this end a blower H2, Fig. 1, is applied to the channel M8 for drawing the .crop and outside air therein to be transferred upwardly through the channel it 3 into another separator such as the cyclone separator Ht, whence it may be delivered to discharge devices H5 and M6 for sacking or other packaging. The outside air drawn into the channel lid with the hot crop cools the particles, thereby preparing the crop for immediate sacking or packaging without danger of discoloration or deterioration of the vitamin content in the crop. As a matter of practice, dehydration of material is carried out to an approximately two percent (2%) moisture content which permits the material to be promptly packaged without the customary time loss due to spreading. The reduction of moisture content also prevents heating and rotting and retains the protein value of the natural material.

It is highly important that the amount of fuel and air supplied to the dehydrator drum be sufiicient to thoroughly dehydrate the crop. It is just as important that excess supplies be prevented in order that the crop may not be burned or otherwise damaged. I have, therefore, provided a system of controls for supplying fuel and air to the dehydrator drum in relation to the amount of material to be dehydrated.

I have found that the temperature of exhaust steam and spent gases issuing from the flue at the rear end of the dehydrator drum is a reliable indication of conditions within the dehydrator drum and the material dehydrated thereby. I, therefore, mount a thermostatic element Hill in the fiueof the separator as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, in such a manner as to actuate the thermostatic element in response to variations in temperature in the stack. Actuation of the thermostatic element is controlled by the adjusting device iZi and the effect of such actuation is transferred by the line 622 to the valve :23, the details of which are illustrated in Fig. 11.

The valve i723 preferably consists of a body 5261 having a longitudinal passage E25 connected at one end with the line 522 and at its other end with aline 526 that leads to a valve HM, and subsequently a diaphragm housing lit. A suit-' 7 the air blower to close the connection of the lines I22 and I2. with the line I29. The tapered plug is springpressed, as by the coil spring I35, adjustment of tension of which is controlled by the screw and handle I36 for adjusting the pressure difierential acting on the valve required to open said valve and supply gas pressure to the diaphragm housing I20. However, the gas normally passes to the thermostat and escapes to atmosphere when the flue gases are cool and said thermostat is open.

The diaphragm in the housing I28 is responsive to actuation of the thermostatic element I20 to, intum, actuate a balanced regulator I40 to control a pressure in the line I30. The line I30 is also provlded with a valve I42, from which the line I30 extends to a manifold I63. Lines I46 and I45, provided with valves I65 and Il l,leadfrom the manifold to the burners 8 for supplying the burners with fuel passing through the line I30.

It is also desirable to supply air in direct relation to the supplyof fuel to the burners and to this end a line I50 leads from the fuel manifold I43 to a pressure gauge I5I, that may be controlled by a valve I52. A by-pass I53, having a valve I54, leads from the line I50 to one side of the diaphragm housing I55. The diaphragm housing is suitably supported by braces I58 and a suitable standard I57, which, in turn, supports Movement of the diaphragm in the housing I55, responsive to pressures in line I50 moves a rod I50 that connects with a lever I59 that is fulcrumed, as at I80.

The end of the lever I59, opposite the rod I58,'is connected, at IGI, with an arm I62, which as shown in Fig. 9, is engaged with a shaft 883 that supports a butterfly valve I56 in the inlet end of the air blower. The shaft I53 is provided with a coil spring I that is compressible hydrator. Evaporation of moisture'in terial under heat produces steam which-tends to cool the material below burning temperatures. Y

material around the bailie and subjects it to 4 further agitation by the intermediate flights of conveyors, the material subsequently passing lon-' ,gitudinally of the dehydrator into engagement with the bafiie 9|, Further distribution, laterally of the baiiie 9|, is aided by the buckets in thei flight 90 of the conveyors and the dehydrated material passes beyond the flight 90 of conveyors through the aperture 05 of the battle ring 04 into the separator 93.

to allow a setting device ill to be moved inwardly out of keyed engagement with the arm I62, whereby the butterfly valve may be initially setand then made subject to variations in flue temperatures upon actuation of the lever I50, when the setting device IlI is forced back into engagement with the arm I02 upon relief of presgrass or other material to be dehydrated is ap-- plied to the conveyor I and transferred by the conveyor 8 to the hopper 2'! and into the dehydrator drum 30. Fuel is supplied the burners 40 through the line I30, and air is supplied in suitable quantities by the blower 5|. Ignition of the fuel causes dehydrating heat within the dehydrator and the deflectors 52 and 53 cause air from the blower to envelop the flames from the fuel and prevent charring of material to be dehydrated.

The tines, spreaders, wings and bucket conveyors agitate and mix comminuted material within the dehydrator and subject each particle thereof to the action of heat and air in the- The dehydrated material collects in the recess IOI of the separator, or is carried upwardly into engagement with the .baiile. I03 in the separator,

by the motion of spent gases of combustion and steam passing through the dehydrator. The gases and steam pass around the baille I03 and subsequently are discharged from the separator through the flue I05.

One of the material advantages of this apparatus is that the steam produced by dehydration of the material adds substantially to the volume of vapors in the dehydrator drum acting on the material and thus reduces the amount of work required by the air blower drive.

As the hot gases and steam pass through the flue they contact the thermostatic element I20, the eifect of which is transferred through the line M2 to the valve I23, If the gases in the flue are too hot, the action of the thermostatic element closes the end of the line I22 and increases the pressure therein. The effect of the pressure in the line I22 passes through the line I28 to the diaphragm housing I28 to cut off part of the supply of fuel passing through the line I00 by actuating the pressure regulator I40. The manlfold M3 is thus provided with less fuel pressure and the flame and the penetration thereof is substantially immediately reduced.

Upon reduction of the fuel pressure to the manifold and butterfly valve to increase the supply of fuel and air'to, the dehydrator drum.

The operator, meanwhile is advised of conditions of the dehydrated material by fluctuations in the gauge III and can thus vary the supply of material to be dehydrated accordingly.-

From the separator I05, the fins I01 scrape the dehydrated material from the separator and transfer it to the channel I00, and subsequently to the channel IIO, where'it is acted upon by the. blower H2, and transferred to the cyclone separator Ill. From the'cyclone separator, the dehydrated material gravitates to the sacking or other packaging devices of the cyclone separator.

It is apparent, therefore, that the present invention provides a method and apparatus for dehydrating natural plants and grasses and other materials to be dehydrated in a thorough and expeditious manner without burning or charring the material acted upon and yet efiiciently enough to thoroughly dehydrate the material. It is further apparent that substantially hermetic sealing of the dehydrator is not critical and operation and maintenance .of the present dehydrating equipment is thus facilitated. It is also apparent that the present method and apparatus accomplishes the results desired of them in a facile, economical and efficient manner.-

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for dehydrating crops of natural plants, a horizontal dehydrating receptacle, means for supplying a crop to be dehydrated to one end of said receptable, burners at the same end of the receptacle to emit flames within and spaced from the sides of the receptacle, means mounted above the burners for supplying an air blast under pressure to said receptacle above and spaced from said flames, said air blast being wider than the flames whereby the difference in temperature oi the air and flames and the rising tendency of the heat eflect downward movement of the air at the sides of the flames in substantial envelopment of said flames, means for exposing substantially all of the crop in the receptacle to the action of the flames and air, and means for separating the dehydrated cropirom moisture and products of combustion.

2. In an apparatus for dehydrating crops oi natural plants, a horizontal dehydrating drum, means for supplying a crop to be dehydrated to one end of said drum, burners at the same end of said drum to emit flames within and spaced from the sides of the dehydrator drum, an air duct having an elongated discharge opening above the burners, said opening being wider than the flames from the burners, means for supplying an air blast to said duct for discharge under pres sure above and spaced from said :dan'les whereby the difference in temperature of the air and flames and the rising tendency oi heat efifect downward movement of the air at the sides oi the flames in substantial envelopment'oi said flames, means for rotating said drum, means in said drum for exposing substantially all of the crop therein to the action of said flames and air, and means for separating the dehydrated crop from moisture and products of combustion in said dehydrating drum.

3. In an apparatus for dehydrating crops of natural plants, a horizontal dehydrating recep tacle having a crop inlet and outlet adjacent the respective ends thereof, means for supplying a crop to be dehydrated to said receptacle inlet, burners mounted adjacent the crop inlet and spaced laterally thereof to emit homes within and spaced from the sides of the receptacle, means for supplying fuel to said burners under pressure, means for suppl ing an air blast under pressure to said receptacle above spaced from and in the same direction as said flames, said air blast being wider than the flames whereby the difierence in temperature of the air and flames effect downward movement oi the air at the sides oithe flames in substantial envelopment of said flames to protect the crop to be -flames into and spaced from the sides of said drum at the same end towhich the crop is applied, means for agitating'said crop in said dehydrator drum to expose said crop to the action of said dehydrating means, said exposing means comprising a flight of bucket conveyors adapted to discharge a portion of said crop to one side oi said flames, certain of said conveyors having apertures in the walls thereof to allow passage of the rema nder of said crops therethrough for discharge on the other side of said flames, and means for discharging an air blast into said dehydrator drum above and spaced from the flames to protect the crop during passage from one side of the drum to the other from the heat rising from the flames.

5. In an apparatus for dehydrating crops of natural plants, a horizontal dehydrating drum having an inlet and an outlet at the respective ends thereof, means for rotating said drum on a substantially horizontal axis, a transversely arranged bafile in the drum of less width than the inner diameter of the drum for separating said drum into primary and secondary dehydrating chambers, a stationary member substantially closing the inlet end of said drum, means extending through the stationary member at one side of the drum axis for supplying a crop to be dehydrated to the primary chamber, a burner extending through the stationary member on the opposite side of the drum axis to the crop supplying means and adapted to emit flames into the primary chamber, means for discharging an air blast under pressure into the primary chamber above and spaced from the flames from the burner, said air blast being wider than the flames whereby the difference in temperature of the air and flames and the rising tendency of heat effect downward movement of air at the sides of the flames in substantial envelopment thereof by the air to prevent the crop from being burnt by the flames, means in the primary chamber for agitating and dropping said crop through the air current and at the sides of the flames, means in the secondary chamber for agitating and dropping the crop across the entire area oi the drum, a separator for separating the dehydrated crop, products of combustion, and vaporized moisture received from the drum, a stack on ill the separator for release of the products of combustion and vaporized moisture from the sepa rator, a fuel supply for said burner, means in-= eluding a thermostat on the stack and respon sive to the temperature of the products of combustion and vaporized moisture passing therethrough after they have been separated from the crops for acting upon the fuel supply for said.

crops to the action of heat produced by a flame projected horizontally into said space, directing a blast of air under pressure into said space prior to mixing with the products'of combustion, said air blast being'spaced above and of greater width than the flame whereby difference in temperature of the air and flame and rising tendency of the heat of the flame eflect downward movement of the air at the sides of said flame for protecting said crops from said flame by substantial' envelopment of the flame by the air, and

separating moisture resulting from action of said flame and air on said crops from said crops.

'7. The method of dehydrating crops of natural plants consisting of moving said crops horizontally through a confined space, subjecting said crops to the action of heat produced by a flame projected horizontally into said space, directing a blast of air under pressure into said space prior to mixing with the products of combustion, said air blast being spaced above and of greater width than the flame whereby difference in temperature of the air and flame and rising tendency of the heat of the flame eflect downward movement of the air at the sides of said flame for protecting said crops from said flame by substantial envelopment of the flame by the air, separating moisture resulting from action of said flame and air on said crops from said crops, and controlling the amount of heat applied to said crops and the projection of the flame into said space in relation to the temperature of the products of combustion and moisture which have been separated from said dehydrated crops.

8. In an apparatus for dehydrating crops of natural plants, a dehydrating drum, means for supplying a crop to be dehydrated to said'drum at one end thereof, a burner extending into said drum adjacent the crop supply means to emit flame to which the crop in the drum is exposed for evaporating the moisture in said crop, an air delivery means in said drum over and spaced from said burner, means for supplying said air delivery means with air for discharge over the flame, means for separating the products of combustion and evaporated moisture from the dehydrated crop, an outlet from said separating means for the products of combustion of the burner and moisture evaporated from the dehydration of said crop, a fuel supply" for said burner, valves controlling said fuel and air supplies, means mounted adjacent said outlet and responsive to the temperature of the products of combustion and evaporated moisture passing therethrough after they are separated from the crops for actuating said valves for controlling the supply of air to the dehydrator and fuel to the burner in relation to temperatures in said outlet.

9. In an apparatus for dehydrating crops of natural plants, a dehydrating drum having walls therein, a transversely arranged baflle in the drum of less width than the inner diameter of the drum for separating said drum into primary and secondary dehydrating chambers, and providing an annular space for communication therebetween. a burner to emit flame into the primary chamber in spaced relation tothe walls of said drum, means for supplying a crop to be dehydrated-to theprimary chamber, means for discharging an air blast under pressure into the primary chamber above and spaced from the flame from the burner, said air blast being wider than the flame whereby the difference in temperature of the air and flame and the rising tendency of the heat of the flame effects envelopment thereof by the air to prevent the crop 10. In an apparatus for dehydrating crops of natural plants, a dehydrating drum having walls, a transversely arranged bailie in the drum of less width than the inner diameter of the drum for separating said drum into primary and secondary dehydrating chambers and providing an annular space for communication therebetween, a burner to emitflame into the primary chamber at an end thereof in spaced relation to the walls of said drum, means for supplying a crop to be dehydrated to the primary chamber at one side of the burner, means for discharging an air blast under pressure into the primary chamber above and spaced from the flame from the bum er, said air blast being wider than the flames whereby the difl'erence in temperature of the air and flame and the rising tendency of the heat of the flame effects downward movement of the air at the sides of the flame and substantial'envelopment thereof by the air to prevent the crop from being burned by the flame, means for rotating the drum, means in the primary chamber for agitating and dropping said crop only through the air current and at the sides of the flame, means in the secondary chamber foragitating and dropping the crop across the entire area of the drum, a separator for separating the dehydrated crop, products of co bus'tion and vaporized moisture received from t e drum, a stack on the separator for release of the products of combustion and vaporized moisture from the separator, and means including a thermostat adjacent the outlet of the separator and re sponsive to the temperatures of the products of combustion and vaporized moisture passing through the stack after they are separated from the crop for controlling projection of the flame and air into the primary chamber.

11. The method of dehydrating crops of nat-' ural plants consisting of, delivering a stream of a crop to one end of a horizontal drying chamber, applying an open flame to the same end of and spaced from the sides of said chamber to effect vaporization of moisture in said crop, said vaporization cooling the crop below the ignition temperature, directing a blast of air under pressure into said chamber prior to mixing with the products of combustion, said air blast being spaced above and of greater width than the flame whereby difference in temperature of the air and flame and the rising tendency of the heat of the flame effects downward movement of the air at thesides of the flame for protecting said crop from said flame by substantial envelopment of the flame by the air and to eflect movement of the crop through the chamber, separating said vaporized moisture and products of combus-' tion from said dehydrated crop, releasing said products of combustion and vaporized moisture from said chamber, withdrawing said dehydrated crop from the chamber, and exposing said dehydrated crop'to atmosphere during withdrawal to cool said crop.

' DEWEY L. HOWARD. 

